Project for Veterans Service Club Yields Lessons, Book


book
The cover of the Veterans Service Club Interview Project book.

Paying homage proved to be an educational experience for Christ School’s Veterans Service Club.

And it can now be found in book form.

The Veterans Service Club Interview Project was conceived and carried out in the Fall of 2021.

The project was never meant to be an all-encompassing look at every Greenie who has ever served, but rather a profile of 15 alumni who are part of the school’s Veterans and Military Affinity Group.

Faculty Advisor Olga Mahoney P’20 said that the interview project was mutually enjoyable for the club and alumni. She recently had Shutterfly print up a hardcover book as a keepsake for everyone involved.

The interviews not only share the alumni’s experiences, but each concludes with their personal advice to current Christ School students.

Following is the list of interviewees, their highest rank and branch, and the student interviewers:

  • Thomas Mackie ’12 (Mortar Platoon Leader, U.S. Marines Corps), Phillip Lopez ’23.
  • Hayes Whitney ’06 (E4, HM3, U.S. Navy), Henry Nicholls ’23.
  • Chalmers Hap Rankin Carr, Jr. ’56 (Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force), Sam Bassett ’22.
  • Morgan MacDonald ’17 (Second Lieutenant, U.S. Air Force), Henry Nicholls ’23.
  • Thomas Garbee ’16 (Platoon Commander for the Utilities Platoon at 2d Combat Engineer Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps), Peter Roberts ’23.
  • Craig Wardlaw ’62 (Captain, U.S. Marine Corps), Cade Rodriguez ’21.
  • Marshall Plumlee ’11 (Captain, U.S. Army, 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment).
  • Mark Glaeser ’14 (Lieutenant Junior Grade, U.S. Navy), Frank Howden ’22.
  • Camrin Opp ’14 (First Lieutenant, Medical Services Corps), Frank Howden ’22.
  • Richard D. Sylvester, Jr. ’57 (Lieutenant, U.S. Navy), Sawyer Breiter ’22.
  • Brian Hayes ’90 (Chief Warrant Officer Three, U.S. Army).
  • Samuel (Skip) Logan ’66 (Captain, U.S. Marine Corps).
  • James T. Darrah, Jr. ‘50 (Colonel, U.S. Army).
  • John Rhett Croswell Bowen ’67 (Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Ret.), Wesley Thomas ’22.
  • John O’Neill Turnage, Jr. ’84 (U.S. Air Force).
Club
The Veterans Service Club, photographed in fall 2021.

Christ School’s Veterans Service Club was founded in the 2018-19 school year by James Coleman ’20, with a mission to raise awareness, advocate, serve, and fundraise for veterans.

Club service trips to Asheville’s Veterans Restoration Quarters and the VA Hospital are sprinkled throughout the year. The annual 22 Pushup Challenge is used to raise awareness about veteran suicide prevention and honor active military members and veterans.